Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-04-30
THE HAY.SELLERS' GRIEVANCES.
The Hearing as Rockville Yesterday.
STATEMENTS NJ THE vARIors PARTIES coScRRNnD
ON TIE QUESTIONS INyoLvgp.

ON TIE QUESTIONS TNyoLvxp.
hearing was begun yesterday az Rockville,
Nd, OF the complaints made by the farmers Of
Montgomery County, Nd, against the prcsen,
management OF the wholesale hay-nlarket In this
city, oy board appointed for that purpose. The
board was composed OF r. B. Farquhar, OF Rock
Vile. who was appointed by the Agricultural So
ciety OF Montgomery County; MT. s W. Curriden
who was appointed by the directors OF the wash
ington Market Co, ana r. c. CONN, OF Muirkirk,
Nd, who was selected by the two gentlemen above
named as the third member, and who was chosen
Chairman. The board met ut ii O'Clock yesterday
morning In one OF the buildings on the grounds Of
the Agricultural Society, and remained In session
until O'Clock. During that time they heard all
others who were unable to be present yesterday,
Will oe neard on Tuesday night at the Center
Market, in this city.
TEE GROUNDS OF COMPLAINT.
as stated to the board, were two. First, that K.
B. Lanerty, commission merchant Of this city,
unJustly Disseminated against the farmers who
came TO the market TO sell hay, and had an un-
fair monopoly or the business Second. that the
weighmaster, II. c. McCauley, had gwen weights
Maa NV wefS gexeo 70 De lneorrec The board
submitted In writing. In response TO this COM
plants were read from Allen Farquhar and Chas.
r. BROOKS In reference TO weights, and from n r.
Wagner, Chas. Bohrer, Orange McNeal In refer.
ence TO MIR. Lafferty. Mr.. Hobart Hutton submit
TED Drief OF interviews had by him with Chas.
BarnSley, Kirk Cashell and Rob,. Adamson Ver-
bal statements were made by \. H. Miller. VIM.
Fleiu, Hobart Hutton, A. G. Graves. W. b Weller
and o. NJ. Burrows.
Messrs. E. b. Lafierty and II. C. McCauley. who
were absent during the first part OF the hearing,
appeared before the board, and the statements
were read to them.
THE GENERAL DRIFT OF TIE TESTIMONY
on the first charge was that Mr.. LafYerty con-
trolled the market here; that the farmers were
I'M 70 call ,,fvl.l,
he had interfered between buyer and seller so as
to make first sales OF hay. One witness said that
ne always sold his hay TO Mr.. Lafferty and OF late
years has never been able TO sell his hay to any
one else. He had in general been pretty well con-
tented With the prices received. He knew OF no
Interference by Mr.. LafTerty, although he had
heard OF IL from Others. Another witness said
that the farmer had an undeniable advantage
under the present arrangement of making quick
sales, but this was set of by the fact that Gus.
toners frequently refused to take the hay sent
them, involving great loss OF time.
Mr.. LAFPERrY's STATEMENT
Mr.. Lafferty stated to the board In reply to
these charges that on no occasion had he ever
interrupted sale, and in no instance had this
been shown before the board. He said that he
always endeavored TO send hay TO those who had
informed him OF their need OF hay, aud the only
occasion when farmers were sent away without
making sale was when the hay had been In
ferlor, or when, as had happened but two or
three OCCASIONS, they had procured hay from other
parties and had not advised MIR LafreIty OF the
fact. AS to having q practical monopoly OF the
business this was no fault OF his as any other
commission merchant had equal facilities Tor
doing the same business
IN REGARD TO Mr.. NcaULEr
the testimony was to the effect that there was a
great variation in the weights on the same wagon
This variation, il was stated, amounted some
times to 500 pounds on what was said TO be the
same amount. The witnesses said that this was
determined by comparing the weight OF the same
load at Brightwood and on private scales in WASH
ingtOn.
In reply Mr.. McCauley stated that OF the three
parties making complaints against him, and
OF the instances OF which they complained,
he knew very little, IL anything: that his scales
were always On the balance. AID were regularly
tested as the District laws required Toy the sealer
OF weights and measures; that he had no object in
understanding or over-Stating the weight OF any
load, and that these alleged discrepancies, II
any explanation could be made OF them, would be
shown to be the result OF the difference I'm the
amount OF mud On the wagons or In the amount
OF hay and feed retained 10y the drivers or In the
dishonesty of the drivers.
The board then adjourned to meet next Tuesday